Quack grass digger



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March 22, 1932. L.; PWCHER 1,850,357

QUACK GRASS DIGGEH ibm/fav lvjelapifabe March 22, 1932. E pn-CHER v 1,850,357

QUACK GRASS DIGGER Filed May 19, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar.` r22,r 1932 Unir-en s'iaresl PA'iisNr OFFICE ELMER'PITCHEB, OF MINNEAPOLS, MINNESOTA, .ASSIGNOR TO llVIJIIiy PIPER, OF5

DAVENPORT, NORTH DAKOTA i y @UACK GRASS BIGGER Application iiied'ivrey i9, 1930. serial No. 453,548,

Mypresentinvention has for its object` to provide a highly efficient quack grass diggerand, to nthis end,'i,t ,consists of the novel devices andv combinations of devices Vhereiiiv cate like parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings:

. Fignl is a `view of the improved quack grass digger principally in plany with some parts being broken away and other parts y shown in horizontal section; v A Figs.- 2 and3kare leftrand right side eleva- 15 tions, respectively, Lof the same;

Fighe is aview partly in longitudinal centralIsection Itaken substantiallyfon the line 4-4 of Fig. .1;

Fig. 5 is a rear end elevationg.

-Figa` isa 4fragmentary detail view prin cipallywin section-.taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3 g1 Figli is a front end elevation of the tongue Y truck with some parts removed;

Fig. -S isa fragmentary` detail View, with some parts sectioned, of the power take-off and hitch, on an enlarged scale;` Fig. 9 isa fragmentary detail view partly inY elevation and partly in section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig-.'74, on-an enlarged scale;

and Y Fig. 410 isavview partly in elevation vand partly in sect-iontaken on vthe line 10e-10 ofiFig 9. Si The inventioiuas illustrated, is designed to bedrawn and operated by a tractor and for the purpose ot this case itis only thought 1 necessary to fragmentarily show the rear axle housing 11 to which is'atta-ched a. hitch 12for ythe quack grass digger and thedifferentialfhousing^13 on which is mounted a bearing 14e for the rear end portion of a longitudinal shattv 15 driven from the engine of said tractor;- f

cludes a tongue truck, a trameand'rear axle and wheels.- Said tongue truck includes a The chassis of the quack grass digger inf vof saidknuckles, atongue19,`tie-.rod 20, con-v necting the armsy 21 on the upper endsfof the steering knuckles-17, connecting rod 22, con-s, necting one of the arms 21.to the tongue 19 and reach 23.

- The front 'axle 16 is made up of upperand lower vertically spaced bars rigidly connected near their en'dsby short channel members and a pair of oblique internal braces formedy from a single bar the', ends'y of ywhich are. rigidly secured in the upper corners'o.` said axle and the intermediate portion of said bar is straight and rigidly secured to the lower Y bar of the axle 16. Formed between the lower,

and brace bars of the front axle 16y is a 'seati in Awhich a horizontal king-pin 24, :that ex.- tends longitudinally of the machine,` isv mounted intermediate-of its ends.r The steering knuckles 17 .are journaledin ythe end. portionsr of the upper and lower barsofthe axel outward'of the end members of said ax e. f Y

Thereaeh 23, as shown, is an invertedwide channel bar which extends longitudinally of the machine and has on yits frontend portion;l a fixed depending yoke-like or U-.shaped/bearing that straddles the lower andrbrace bars of the axle 16 and its prongs are piv-v oted'to the end'portions of vthe lkingi-.pin12/1. A iexible separable coupling 26 connects the tongue 19 -to the front end of the reach 23.

attached to the hitch 12', as shown in Fig'. 8.' `f A pair of rearwardly converging radius rods 27 connect the axlef16,at its outer end, to the rear end of the reach 23 and the connection 4between said radius rods and reach is aV pivot pin 23 axially aligned with the lking-piny 24. This pivot pin 287is mountedvv in a bear.-` ing on the-reach 23 similar tot-he bearing 25, The frame 29, as shown, is a. rectangular structure comprising a pair of ch'annelsidel members and a pairy of channel end members. Said frame 29v further includesan interme diate cross-tie channel member 30 near the front end of said frame. The front end mem 9 ber of the frame 29k audits cross-tiememberk 30 rest, at their longitudinal centers, on theVV reach 23 and are rigidly securedthereto. The frame 29 has a raised rear end portion.

On the spindles ,of the rearI axle 31` is jourf The front endl of the tongue 19 is pivotally ichv ljnaled pairof rearlwheels 32: VThis rear azrle V- V31'is`v'of thetilting, crank-acting type and its Y d thev frame V29.

intermediate portion, on which therear end c 'of the frame 29`res`ts, is journaled a pair ofjbearings on said frame.4 A pair of oblique bracefrods 33norrnally hold the rearv Aaxle A31 from tiltingQ` These brace rods 33 are attached at'one of their ends to the spindles,

of the `rear axle4 31 inward of the wheelsl 32 and theirother ends yare attachedby'bcilts'hbdflk toangle brackets 35 on the side membersof Said Y bolts 34 are passed'.

' through aiignedhoiesinthebracerodsaeand Y brackets 35. To .vary theoperative length'of Y the brace rods-33, to hold the axle 31 differenttilted positions, thereis formed 1n each of'-said? 'rodsfa' longitudinal row of "holes i Y through `any oneof Vwhich the respective bolt 34 maybe passed.

- Mounted ion'ithe-framel29between the4 tonguev truck Aand 'rear wheels 32' is a {tyrans-ff` versewloweror pick-up beater 36* and aco- 1the=upp`erbeater 37;" Theshaft 39 ofthe up- 4perfbeater 37 extends transversely over' the 29.; df' Vou naledin bearins onl r r l kmi! an Y, 1S l r Y 57 to the arms of 'Atheyoke 40 above the Shaft '"...Theiowribearseiscarried bythe afg i I I i i i y ofisaid:teeth'laterally spaced in a singlerow! .fOn v'one .f the endsjof l each hubfinfthe :of iafheavy yokef40 which extends trans-j versely f of V,the frame l 29' with its transverse- Vportion overlyingftheupper beater 37 and with'itsarms pivoted,intermed1ate lof theiry ends, on the shaftg39 vforswinging ymovement 2 longitudinally vof i the frame 29. ,Said lower beater 36 comprises ash'aft 41,'a skele v y 4 d l.

to the frame 29; l f

1201i drumand teeth'43. f,

yeachperipheral.v shaftwof the dr`um542, be-

said heads. v TheY teeth 43 yare formed with f the hubs 44 and on each of said hubs are four r group 'between yeach pair ofv heads is a" stop 45,v -which formsy inner"'extensions of the .teth43', and on A'the adjacent 'head is a Ystop 1ug46ifor eachstop linger 45, see Fig.

10.3VV Formed on the yhubs 44,in'theplane of cach fin rV 43,7 are short :crank-arms 47k in v bellfcran farran'gement qwith said fingers. v Asfshowmthere are eight circumferentially spaced rowsfiofteeth 43 in each group and four coiled springs48 connect substantially! Adiameftricallyfy opposite teeth 43 'and normally v lower the esame.y

v the'hand lever 50 to the lefthand arm of the e i Y 'Thejidrum42 is f made" up of ai plurality `ryof `axiall"yfjspacgui 'headsy rigidly secured -to Ythe shaft lRanda plurality of circumfe"rentiallyl Y`peripheral'shafts mounted in alignedv seats in lsaid heads'. E Turnably :mounted on shaft 39 swings the lower beater 36 circumfer-Y Lm Y entially about the upper beater'37 to raise or Stops A49 on the^ s'ide inembers `of the frame-29 are arranged to beenraise the same,'there' is'provided an upright hand latchlever 50 having a cooperating lock segment 51". The 'latch-lever 50 is pivoted to the left sidemember of the frame 29y for movement y, longitudinally thereof kand the `lock segment is rigidly Secured thereto.` A

link 52, having a flexible section 5 3, connects yoke 40above the shaft 39, seeFig'2.. y 'Toassist in'fliting thek lower beater'36 when raising the same .by means of tlieliandy lever 5,0 or when said beater Vstrikes a' rock or other obstruction and asseslthereoventhere lisp'rovided oneach side foff the framef29'a counterbalancingspring 54;;l -f Thesesprings `'hold theirfingers 45 'against' kthe stop lugs ,Y

Vgaged by the arms ofthe yoke 40 and limitr 'V 7s j To swingthe lower beater 36 'rearward to 54arel anchored to (depending bracket'sf', f on the ,front end 'member' ofthe `frame`29 and attached@ tooneof the arin's'ofapair offbe'llcranks 56 *pivotedf to the 'under' sides4 of Vvthe .side members of said frame. The otherar'ms of 'the lbell-cranks Lare 4'connected by links' l* bars 59. Saidma'in frame 58"'is suspendedr Vunder the rear! axle 311y and at eachV end by a pair. ofjhanger barsO pivot'edat their lower ends to said frame and at their'fupper'ends To-hold the shaker'38rat dil'erent'elevar-` f tions abovethe ground the hanger-bars 60are vprovided with rows of holesspaced lonvitudinally thereof 'for' bolts, whichy ipivotaly no Y connect `said. bars to theV frame 29. Thef-inelin'ationof the-shaker 38 may also bev varied'V by'longitudinally adjusting the `han r-.bars

60 on'the frame 29. Shortro'cker inks61l independently support `the sections" 'of theA v I shaker-'38 :from the frame 58 fon'reciproca-y toryjmov'ement longitudinallyy of the machine and thejfront'enids of said sections-are'supported on'cranks62 on a crank shaft 63-jourk 'naled insaidiframe and by whichcranks the sections of the lshaker 38 Yare 'reciprocated The cranks '6`2ofr Vadjacent sections of the shaker 38 are set 180 apartrand the brackets connecting the crank I62 tosaid yshaker sec: v tionsy are of `Asuicient length yto'prevent the bars 59-froinwhitting *the crankshaft d' i `Materials yon lthe shaker 38 are collected in a `pair ofy aligned troughs 64 ywhich .extend transversely of the machine. There 'is' one of frame and Y images? these troughs 64xfor each ofthe two! outer sections of :theshaker'38 andthese are rigidly secured by brackets 6l tothelinks 6,1'. Said links 6l supporty the =troughs 464 for bodily transverse lmovementslongitudinally of the machine during the reciprocatory movements ofthe shakers 38 and aty the same time vimpart rocking movements'to said troughs.v These troughs 64 arel downwardly and inwardly inclined and endwise spaced to discharge the collected materials therein in a common windrow on theground at the transverse centerY of the machine. f n

. To hold the shaker 38 a predetermined and constant distance from 4the lower beater' 36 there is provided a vpair'of links 65 which-con: nectthe 'shaft`41 of said beater to the crank shaft 63, see Figs. 2'and 3. These links 65 hold thefsliaker 38 against swinging movement in respect to lthelower beater '36* and impart bodily movements thereto when said beater is raised or lowered.

An open bottom sheet'metal housing and deflectorA 66 is provided for the beaters 36 and 87fandshaker 38, snugly lits between the side'members of the Vframe 29, between theY rear end and intermediate members of said Theuppcr beater 37 is driven; in thedi recti on of the arrows indicated therearound in Fig. 4, from the tractor driven shaft 15 bythe following connections,fto wit: A short horizontal longitudinally extended Vshaft 67 is journaled in front and rear bearings l68, the former of which -is on the reach 23 and the latter on the 'front end member ofthe frame 29, see Fig. 4. Between the shafts `15 and 67 is a longitudinallyextensible and contractable shaft 6 9 comprising telescopically connectec lmembers7V one of which is connected by a universal joint 70 to the shaft '15 and the vother member of which is *connectedy by a universal joint 7l to Vthe shaft 67.r This shaft `69 and universal jointsj70 and 7lfcompensate' for varying movements between Vthe tractor and quack grassdigger and it will be noted that thenniversal joint 7l is directly over the'kingpin 24 to permit transverse rocking'of they front axle 1.6. On Lthe rear end of the shaft is a miter gear-72 which meshes with a like gear 7 3 on the right hand end of a transverse shaft 74 j-ournaled in a pair of bearings7 one of which is on the reach 23 and the other ofwhich is on the left hand side member of the frame29. AA sprocket chain runs over a pair of alignedsprocket wheels 7 6 and 77 on the left hand endsvof the shaft 74 and upperbeaterY shaft 39,'respec- +Vively,` outward of the frame 29.

The lowerbeat-er Y36 is driven, in the direction of the arrows indicated therearonnd in Fig. 4,`from the sprocket chain 75 by a transverse shaft 78 journaled in bearings on the side members of the frame V29 and having is rigidly secured thereto, see

' oniits left hand 'end' asprdcket'wheelfwhich overliesnsaidr chain :andis 'in' toothed engage- 'ment with the i uppen'run thereof. A

sprocket chain'80'runs-over a relativelysmall sprocket wheel -812 onfthe fright hand end of Vthe shaft -78 :and a relativel'ylarge sprocket wheel82 loose on'the upper beater shaft'39.

0n the same hub with the sprocket wheel 82 is Va relatively small sprocket 'wheell`8-,

aligned therewith on Vthe lower beatershaft j .driving connections for theupper beater 37 and lower ybeater `36 is such `that saidupper beater'is :driven ata 'peripheral speed .su-b*-V stantially live times that'fof said lower beater so th-atthereY is ay combing' action set upby the teeth of theupper beater 37 betweenthe teeth :of the 'lower beater 86 that quickly and eiiiciently removes all materials-barriedv upward on'the teeth of said 'lower beater.

The crankshaft wliich reciprocates the sections of the'shaker'BS is driven yfrom the lower beater shaft 41byxa short sprocket chain 8 6 i which runsy :over aligned sprocket wheelsf87 and 88 onk the left hand yends of said two `shafts and 41, respectively. As the swinging Y movement A.of the llower f Ebeater y:36 about ythe axis ofthe upperfbeaterBT is -in ra true circle the tensionfofthe .sprocket chain 85 is always the same lin the differentpositions -of 'said'lower-fbeater. The links 65" alf ways keep 'the cra-nk Vshaft 63thesam'e fdismanipulates th'hand lever 50 'to Alowerthel pick-np beater 86 softhat its teeth vproject into the vground the desired distance, preferably to a depthslightly less than thatf'to which theeld is plowed'.Y No other attention need beV given the quack grass digger as the sameis steered vandoperated from the tractor. The

revolving-teeth ofthe pick-up beater 36 work-` ingv in the groundA remove; and pick-'up all' u-ark grass as well asfstraw stubble and 'other rubbish on the field and carry-the same tupf wardon 'its teeth where itis engaged with a combing action by rthe teeth of the upper beater 87 and thrown thereby rearward 'in the direction ofthe arrows marked onFig. 4, and i precipitated onto' the shaker 38.A

' Durin'gthe lifting-movement of the quackA grass andother materials by thepickeup beat!v er 36 all `loose dirt drops therefrom betweeni the teeth of said beater and backlonto theground. Anydirt Vclinging-to the quack grass 'i roots, clods andthe like, willbe broken' by? the combing action of the teethof the 'uppers Y jbeaiter''f'bet'weenthe teeth ofthe lower beater y 36.1.Materials precipitated onto the .shaker v said hubsV with the rows of teeth inoperative positions, short vcrank-acting farms` on #fthe 38 are agitatedandworked backward thereon byftheftooth bars 59y and at which time any s remaining loose' dirt :on the shaker 38willbe.

:precipitated between :thebars thereof and onto': the ground, asindicatedk byV arrowsfin 21.11; f Y l *From there'ar-end of the shaker 38 thema-y f qllfterials'are worked into the troughs 64 bythe v 'agitation ofthe tooth bars59.A The agitation :of shaker 38 by theA crank shaft -63 1 Will y i ,falsd'agitatethe"troughs 64 so that materials therein: are worked Ydownward .andfinward and;r deposited .on the ground between v*said `vtroughsin a single windrow.l This 4yvvindlov'v yafterlying onlthe ground 'asuiicient lengthof i s `.Thehousing and deflect() time ,to'dr y," orat kleast partly dry, is burned,

',andirthej grass, weeds mixedawiththe gI'aSS.L"`1. ,e Y i ,I AIncase'oneofthe *teeth ofthe lowerbeapter 361strikesa. rock: orv other obstruction the respectivespring 48 f 'will'yield and permit said tooth toi move over 'the obstruction v `without i damaging? thei inachinew In! case the lower beater fstrikesaa'-y larg'e obstruction lthe-enn tire beater36 will-flift, which is permitted'by Y "shaker, means lfor operating the shaker,yand a .trough atthe delivery endiofthe shaker vextending- ,transverselyf thereof and' arranged toV theflexiblesectioniin the link 52,*and pass over the obstruction, and then return ity to operativel position. 2'? i t, n l eewvindirecttihe material'sffromthe beaters 36 andBfTto-'the shaker and preventthe light materials from beingl, blown by the wind" overV the 'f field.V In,V

y addition to` removing they quack grass from the field the working of the soil by thelower beater, saidpi'ck-up 1'. In a deviceoftheclass described,a y equipped-k rotary y*pick-upg"beater, ja" driven toothfequippedV rotary combing beater, the teeth'lof rthe'gcombing beater being arranged to workbetween the teeth ofthe pick-'up beater,

and -means-fora.-driving 'the pickfup beater Y fr'omgthev numbing beater c and at a kreduced forraisingk and lowering movements and aypiek-up beater. a l 1" 1" 3. Infajdevicefof class described,fa beater including adrumY andA circumferentially,

spacedrows of laterally spaced teeth', said drum' comprising adrive shaft, axially spaced the heads, 'saidj rows ,of teethy being rigidly quaclrgra, materially.assist in the burning 1,

the .deiiectin A'-meansis by grav-'i klthe 'same and"` leaves an yielding counterbalaning j device 'for' the f" 'l a Shaker arrangedt'o y,receive materials from' arranged to engage saidk stops to position hubs,vv and springs connectingsubstantially f'370 diametricallyopposite' crank-.acting yarms and nonnallyfholding thev hubs with' their fingers againstsaid stops.)

f4; In a deviceofthe classrdescribeda pick#y y' up beater, and'a cooperatmgcombing beater, Gib

eaV shaker arranged to receive materials f from the combingibeater', andfmeans for collectingy materials from 'the' shaker. fand depositinggthe Vsame ina windrow on' thegound. 5.' In a. device ofthe class described,'a` pickup beater, a combing' beater, a" shaker, and Vmeans forr deilectingmaterials rfrom the .beaters-onto' the shaker.AY

-' 6.. AIna` device of the'yclassA described, a pick;

exceptat its? ttom'.'

f 8. Inlade'vice 'ofthe class deserilied'rfa`r receive "materials therefrom, said trough Y. being Yconnectedto the shaker for movement Y therewith'.y 'Y 4 f device of the "classi described, a shaker, supporting means for the'shakerincluding an upright link pivoted at`its' lower vend to a relatively fixedsupportand at its upper Vend tothe shaker, means for reciprocating the Shaker, and atrough at the delivery end of the shaker extendingtransversel thereof land arrangedv to frecei'vefmateria s therefrom,v said troughVv .being connected to the link'for movement with theshaker.y 'i y' 10. Inajdelvice Vof the class'. described, a shaker, 'a lpair'. ofA links supportinv the rear ,end f the yshaker lfpry movement ongitudi portland at their upper ends to the shaker, and a trough extending transversely of1 the shaker and p 11: 'In a device ofthe dass describes: t pickupbeate'r and a cooperating eombing'beater,

the combing, beater, and a' transverse trough Y nallyof'fthe device, said' links beingA pivoted Y 'at' thei'rlowerendsrto a' relatively iixed sup- Y carried by'jthe links yinp'ositionto receive `materials from the shaker; f

carriedl by the shaker, yarranged to receive materialstherefrom and deposit lthe same on the ground 'in a` windrow.v

In testimony whereof vI aiix my signature.`

` ELMERPITCHER. j

@secured tsaid hubs, circumferentially spaced;

f beingarr'anged to throw. materials therefrom 

